The directive was issued by Didi Walson-Jack, who clarified that no provision in the Public Service Rules authorizes such automatic leave before retirement.
In a circular addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of government agencies, and other senior public officials, the Head of Service said many MDAs had misinterpreted existing retirement regulations by treating the mandatory notice period as a leave entitlement.
The circular, titled “Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities,” explained that officers approaching retirement are required to provide three months’ notice, participate in a pre-retirement workshop, and complete pension-related documentation during the notice period.
According to Walson-Jack, these requirements do not exempt officers from their official responsibilities.
Retirement Notice Is Not Leave
The Head of Service emphasized that the widely practiced three-month pre-retirement leave has no legal basis under the Public Service Rules.
She explained that Rule 120243 outlines three separate obligations for retiring officers: giving notice of retirement, attending a one-month pre-retirement seminar, and using the remaining period to reconcile service records and pension documentation.
“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before their effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement,” the circular stated.
The clarification means that retiring civil servants are expected to remain actively engaged in their duties throughout the notice period unless they are attending approved retirement workshops or have received authorization under existing leave provisions.
MDAs Ordered to Ensure Compliance
Under the new directive, all MDAs have been instructed to stop compelling retiring officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates.
Government institutions are expected to ensure that affected officers continue performing their responsibilities while simultaneously completing retirement documentation and participating in approved pre-retirement programmes.
The directive also requires permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, agency chairpersons, and chief executives of government organizations to communicate the policy to staff and enforce full compliance.
Move Expected to Improve Service Delivery
The clarification is expected to impact thousands of federal civil servants who approach retirement annually.
For many years, several government institutions interpreted the three-month notice period as an extended leave arrangement, often directing officers to stop reporting for work once retirement notices were submitted.
As a result, experienced personnel frequently left active service months before their official retirement dates.
The Federal Government believes the new policy will help preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen workforce capacity, and improve service delivery across public institutions.
Officials also expect the measure to support smoother pension processing by ensuring that retiring officers remain available to complete documentation and resolve personnel record issues before leaving service.
Retirement Rules Remain Unchanged
Nigeria’s retirement framework for federal civil servants continues to be governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act.
Under the existing regulations, public servants retire upon reaching 60 years of age or after completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
The government noted that pre-retirement seminars remain an important part of the process, helping officers prepare for life after service while providing guidance on pension documentation and retirement planning.
The latest directive seeks to eliminate confusion by making it clear that the three-month period before retirement is primarily a notice and administrative preparation window, rather than an automatic leave from work.
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